SIALKOT, April 26: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has released a Rs3.52 billion grant for the uplift of Barani areas in Sialkot and Narowal districts.

District Nazim Muhammad Akmal Cheema disclosed this while speaking at a workshop on “Sustainable Livelihood for Barani Areas Development” held here on Thursday under the auspices of the Agency for Barani Areas Development (ABAD).

He said the project would help provide sustainable livelihood to the local people, better look after of the available natural resources, maximum job opportunities by promoting agricultural development schemes and training to local women in Barani areas in active collaboration with the ABAD.

Mr Cheema said that ADB-funded project would also provide guidance to government functionaries concerned for upgrading the agricultural sector at the local level, besides advancing maximum farm loans on soft-term to small farmers.

Sialkot DCO Capt Atta Muhammad Khan (retired), ABAD’s Islamabad project manager Waseem Afzal Chaudhry, district project manager Arshad Mehmood Asim, EDO (agriculture) Ehsan Ahmad Leghari, EDO (finance) Rana Azhar Ali, EDO (community development) Javaid Gill, ABAD officials and representatives of growers also attended the workshop.

CHINESE TRADERS: A delegation of Chinese traders visited the Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) here on Thursday.

The delegation, led by Chen Ji Vice, also held a meeting with the local business community and discussed in detail the matter of mutual interest. The SCCI president was also present on the occasion.

Later, Chinese traders also visited various leading industrial units in Sialkot amid tight security.